Stockton's blessing

Alysha and Brody blessed their son, Stockton, while we were in Utah.  

It feels like just yesterday that we were blessing Kelton.  I am having a hard time believing how fast time has flown.  Brody performed the blessing and did a great job.  Afterwards we headed to his uncle's home for food.  There was lots of it and it was very tasty.  The girls ate more cookies than anything else, but I suppose that's to be expected at a family party.

While we were hanging out I noticed how much like a missionary Kelton looks in his new tie.  I couldn't resist taking a picture that could be used at his farewell in eighteen years.  

Father and son both looking dashing.

Most of all it was simply great being there to support Alysha and Brody.  What a great looking little family.

Bonus Christmas

The girls were super excited when we went back to Utah for another trip to see our families, especially because it meant that Christmas came all over again!  It was absolute torture waiting for Papa to get home from the airport.  The girls spent almost the entire evening by the Christmas tree dreaming about the wrapped gifts underneath.  I don't think Bruce had a chance to catch his breath before the girls asked if it was time to open the presents.  We cruelly made them wait until after dinner but then it was time.  

The girls got some more top toys from their lists, like Rainbow Dash!  

The Croods.  

Legos all around!  

And toys that make music and have flashing lights.  

Other highlights of the night were fairies from Uncle D.  

Garage storage shelves for Jeremy and I.

An X-Box for Alysha and Brody.  

And a Boppy for Dantley.  

The guys teased him mercilessly for it until they realized how comfortable it actually was to cuddle with.  

 The kids thought they were super lucky to have such an awesome bonus Christmas.

 We even managed to get a smiling picture of the ever-growing Rogers clan.

Simply hanging out in Logan

Earning more "favorite aunt points," Camille put on a dance performance with the girls.  They pulled out whatever dress-up clothes they could find and totally rocked it.  

Camille makes a fabulous lion.  

We lit some New Year's Eve fireworks too.  They were simple sparklers and flowers, but my girls haven't lit a firework in at least two years and it was a super fun experience for them.  When they saw the sparklers on the counter, they both thought they were going to be candles for McKenzie's birthday cake.  Can you imagine how cool that would be?  And as we were lighting the flowers, my safety-conscious six-year-old commented, "Mom, I don't think this is very safe."  Yes, she is totally my daughter.  McKenzie on the other hand was just funny.  She lit a flower and wanted to throw it.  After she threw it we told her to run away.  She ran, and ran, and ran, until she was all the way up by the front door.  She didn't know she didn't need to go that far.  It was freezing outside and so the fireworks didn't last forever.  But I have decided we definitely need to be in Utah for the 4th so they can light some proper fireworks.

McKenzie opened some presents from Grandma and Grandpa for her birthday.  She has her own play-dough and is thrilled that it is all hers.  

And here's a quick hug from Grandma before we were off to our next destination.

Ski the Little Beav

There are a couple of reasons I love Beaver Mountain.  Number one: they are affordable.  McKenzie is on my mom's season pass for free, and the rest of us don't have to give up our life savings for a lift ticket.  Number two: The magic carpet is perfect for little skiers, and Little Beav is adventurous enough to satisfy Cambrie's blossoming talent.  Number three: the lodge is super easy access which means that we can take shifts watching Kelton and it doesn't cut into anyone's day.  The weather was super warm and it was the perfect day to teach the girls how to ski.  I wasn't sure how Cambrie would do since this is her first time going this season.  After only two or three quick runs down the magic carpet she was ready for the lift and some real terrain.  Jeremy and I had every intention of teaching her how to ski, but when your sister is an actual ski instructor and does such a fabulous job without even trying...well, it's hard to compete.  

My loving sister spent her entire day with my daughters patiently practicing pizza's and zoom skis.  

I had no idea what to expect with McKenzie since she only went once last year.  Her balance was fabulous and she worked really hard on her pizza skis, but she simply ran out of energy quickly.  Every time I took a break with Kelton in the lodge, she joined us.

Her favorite part of the day was riding the chairlift.  We tagged along after Cambrie for a few runs and as we rode along McKenzie would call out, "Helllllooo everybody down there!  We are so high!"

When it was time for lunch I would walk out and ask Cambrie if she was ready for lunch.  Her response, "I want to go again!"  And again...and again...and again.   I basically had to bribe her with cookies to get her to come in and take a break.  Then when Jeremy and I wanted to take one last run on our own, I had to plead with her to be done.  That's a good sign right?  My girls are already asking when they can go again.

Kelton cheering for his sisters and waiting his turn.

And Jeremy and I with a quick couple picture, thrilled that our girls are having a good time.

Sledding at Grandma's

I don't know if it is good or bad luck, but it seems as though we missed every major snowstorm this year.  When we are in Utah, it snows in Colorado.  When we are in Colorado, it snows in Utah.  We make it back just in time for the slightly melted, slightly crusty old snow.  It means that we haven't made any snowmen, but at least the sledding hills have been well marked.  In the past we have sledded down the hill next to my parents' garage.  This year, however, the city finished off a drainage basin at the end of their street which is perfect for sledding with my girls.  McKenzie and I decided to go have an afternoon of fun and went tubing.  It was an afternoon filled with silly giggles.  

We wrestled.  

She dragged behind my leg.  

We played "ring-the-McKenzie." 

I swung her around with my spare tire. 

We posed for pictures.  

And of course, we slid down the hill.  It was such a warm day that we really had no reason to go inside.  Who knew rubber tires could be so much fun. 

Already?

I have been really enjoying every moment of Kelton's babyhood.  The fact that he is nearly six months old and I should be starting him on solids makes me kind of sad.  Not only because life with baby food is messy, but because my little guy is growing up.  When we first brought out the rice cereal he treated it like any other bottle or pacifier we've tried putting in his mouth, he spit it out.  He has a very busy tongue and it's hard to get the spoon past it while it's sticking out and wiggling.  

That didn't stop the girls from trying their best to feed their baby brother.  

  

Christmas morning

I don't know what time Christmas morning starts at your house, but at our house apparently it starts at 5:30!  Jeremy and I had been up all night taking care of Kelton and when I heard little feet running up and down the stairs at 5:30 I knew we were going to be in for a treat this Christmas.  I put on my glasses and went downstairs to see them literally jumping around the room because they couldn't wait to open their gifts.  Santa received a little help this year from anonymous little elves and the girls each had a pile of presents waiting for them under the tree.  I vaguely remember having more control of the gift distribution and opening rate in years past.  This year, however, it was a full-fledged assault on the presents.  I barely had time to notice the girls were opening the gifts, much less to see what they had received.  Each time we told the girls to slow down they looked at us like we were crazy!  Ah well, I guess some flurried excitement is to be expected on Christmas morning.  So while the picture taking suffered because of the speed of unwrapping, I miraculously took video footage this year.  Here are some of the pictures I did manage to snap.  

Cambrie made a stuffed hedgehog for McKenzie.  Her name is Poppy.

Cambrie has been asking for modeling clay for ages and was so excited to finally get some. 

 McKenzie is hugging her very own chapstick.  Now she doesn't have to sneak mommy's.

  Cambrie's obsession with frogs reminded me that I had a stuffed beanbag frog from my childhood hanging out in a box downstairs.  We pulled it out to give it new life and Cambrie is thrilled.  

From my Grandma Stratford the girls received a bag full of crafting goodies.  I can't even begin to imagine what the girls are going to create with that.  They are so creative. 

 McKenzie loves her picture of a "castle."  Even though we've corrected her to explain that it is a temple, I think that in this case it's close enough.  I think temples are castles too.  

Cambrie has been begging for cowgirl boots, and as a bonus these are blue!  

Miss McKenzie's Twilight Sparkle pony was a gift I knew would be a hit.  I have been losing McKenzie in Target for months now and each time I have found her in the My Little Pony aisle playing with this doll.  Little did I know it is an automated singing, shining, and blinking robot.  She is in love.  

I was very surprised when Jeremy gave me a gift wrapped like a sword.  I had not asked for a sword....  But when I unwrapped it I was excited to see that it was a new belt.   

He also managed to wrap a present with twine and sheet rock tape.  It was not an easy present to open and when I finally did get it open I saw old running shoes.  Wait a second...  But they were just holding the place of a new pair that should arrive soon.  Yea!  

It doesn't look like I managed to get a single picture of Jeremy's gifts.  But he got a new biking top, a new shirt for work, matching ties for him and Kelton, and new anti-fog goggles.  

We finished opening all of our gifts just in time for Kelton to wake up and then it was on to round two.  You might notice in these pictures that the sun is finally up!  Kelton's main gift was a jumperoo.  I think he is going to be very happy with it, what do you think?  

He also unwrapped a couple of car ramps, a fisher price bus and pirate ship, and a rolling ball.  Unsurpringly his favorite toy to play with was the wrapping paper.  The crinkling noise was too tempting to pass up and he could suck on it for quite awhile before it grew too soggy to play with anymore.  

Does this look like Christmas morning chaos at your house?  

While I made green Christmas waffles the kids started playing with their toys.  In their stocking they received plastics bubbles which stacked well for a great snowman.  

Cambrie made a frog with her modeling clay. 

Kelton watched his cars go down his ramps. 

And a marathon of Lego building began.  Cambrie' cruise ship was a multi-hour project. 

 The rest of the day were hung out in our Christmas jammies, listened to Christmas music, snacked on Christmas cookies, and played with Christmas toys.  I think it was just about as perfect as a Christmas as you could hope for.  Merry Christmas everyone!